Detectives, prosecutors slated to meet on Shores shooting

Rebecca Vega lights two candles at a memorial for Thomas James "TJ" Brown Thursday night in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Silver Springs Shores. Brown, inset photo, was fatally shot there Wednesday night.

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Sometime after the meeting, the State Attorney’s Office could make a decision on any possible charges in connection with the homicide.

Capt. Robert Sandlin, assistant bureau chief of the MCSO’s Special Investigations Unit, said Friday that detectives are compiling facts from witness interviews and reviewing evidence gathered so far, which they will present to the State Attorney’s Office.

Also on Friday, the Sheriff’s Office identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Colt Dylan Thriemer. Authorities say he fatally shot Brown, 21, of Silver Springs Shores, in the southwest corner of the Wal-Mart parking lot at 34 Bahia Ave.

A woman who answered the phone at Thriemer’s residence Friday told a Star-Banner reporter that Thriemer was unavailable for comment.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said the meeting with detectives is slated for next Thursday. Before the meeting, Ridgway said, his office will get copies of reports and listen to whatever statements have been gathered.

At the meeting, Ridgway said, they will ask the detectives questions and discuss whatever follow-up might be needed before they make a decision.

Ridgway said they don’t know anything about the case other than what was learned shortly after the shooting, when a homicide prosecutor received a preliminary briefing.

Sheriff’s detectives said Brown was killed when he and Thriemer got into a verbal argument that turned physical. During the confrontation, Brown was shot several times, according to MCSO. The shooting occurred around 11:15 p.m.

Officials said Brown and Thriemer knew each other.

Since the shooting, Sandlin said detectives have re-interviewed Thriemer, but Sandlin would not discuss the interview. Thriemer’s vehicle is still being processed and analyzed.

Detectives are confident they have the gun used in the shooting. They did not release any details about it.

A witness who was at the scene told the Star-Banner on Thursday that Brown was not armed.

Witnesses told the Star-Banner Thriemer shot Brown multiple times. One witness, Stephanie Torres, who was with Brown at the time of the shooting, said the two men were talking when Brown punched Thriemer once in the face. She said Thriemer then reached for a gun inside his nearby vehicle and shot Brown.

When Brown turned around, she said, Thriemer continued to shoot.

Torres said she heard an estimated eight or nine shots and said most of them were aimed toward Brown’s back area.

Another witness, Casaundra Reckner, told the Star-Banner she heard the shots and, turning around, saw Brown fall to the ground. Reckner said she then saw Thriemer continue to fire shots at Brown while he was lying in a fetal position.

A vigil for Brown was held Thursday night at the spot where he was shot.

<p>Marion County Sheriff's Office detectives are scheduled to meet with prosecutors next week to review the fatal shooting of Thomas James Brown in Silver Springs Shores Wednesday night.</p><p>Sometime after the meeting, the State Attorney's Office could make a decision on any possible charges in connection with the homicide.</p><p>Capt. Robert Sandlin, assistant bureau chief of the MCSO's Special Investigations Unit, said Friday that detectives are compiling facts from witness interviews and reviewing evidence gathered so far, which they will present to the State Attorney's Office.</p><p>Also on Friday, the Sheriff's Office identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Colt Dylan Thriemer. Authorities say he fatally shot Brown, 21, of Silver Springs Shores, in the southwest corner of the Wal-Mart parking lot at 34 Bahia Ave.</p><p>A woman who answered the phone at Thriemer's residence Friday told a Star-Banner reporter that Thriemer was unavailable for comment.</p><p>Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said the meeting with detectives is slated for next Thursday. Before the meeting, Ridgway said, his office will get copies of reports and listen to whatever statements have been gathered.</p><p>At the meeting, Ridgway said, they will ask the detectives questions and discuss whatever follow-up might be needed before they make a decision.</p><p>Ridgway said they don't know anything about the case other than what was learned shortly after the shooting, when a homicide prosecutor received a preliminary briefing.</p><p>Sheriff's detectives said Brown was killed when he and Thriemer got into a verbal argument that turned physical. During the confrontation, Brown was shot several times, according to MCSO. The shooting occurred around 11:15 p.m.</p><p>Officials said Brown and Thriemer knew each other.</p><p>Since the shooting, Sandlin said detectives have re-interviewed Thriemer, but Sandlin would not discuss the interview. Thriemer's vehicle is still being processed and analyzed.</p><p>Detectives are confident they have the gun used in the shooting. They did not release any details about it.</p><p>A witness who was at the scene told the Star-Banner on Thursday that Brown was not armed.</p><p>Witnesses told the Star-Banner Thriemer shot Brown multiple times. One witness, Stephanie Torres, who was with Brown at the time of the shooting, said the two men were talking when Brown punched Thriemer once in the face. She said Thriemer then reached for a gun inside his nearby vehicle and shot Brown.</p><p>When Brown turned around, she said, Thriemer continued to shoot.</p><p>Torres said she heard an estimated eight or nine shots and said most of them were aimed toward Brown's back area.</p><p>Another witness, Casaundra Reckner, told the Star-Banner she heard the shots and, turning around, saw Brown fall to the ground. Reckner said she then saw Thriemer continue to fire shots at Brown while he was lying in a fetal position.</p><p>A vigil for Brown was held Thursday night at the spot where he was shot.</p><p>A family member said his funeral arrangements are pending.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@ocala.com or 352-867-4118.</i></p>